Toner cleaning device for an electrophotographic apparatus

Abstract

A cleaning device for an electrophotographic apparatus including a cleaning brush for cleaning unnecessary residual toner particles adhered to an electrostatic latent image retentive member, a cleaning fan for obtaining an air flow to suck the toner particles scraped by the brush and a filter for collecting the sucked toner particles is disclosed. The cleaning device comprises a path of the air flow for sucking the toner particles being made thick at the vicinity of the filter thereby to slow down a speed of the air flow, to easily catch the toner particles by the filter and to drop down the toner particles in front of the filter, and a toner reservoir being provided for collecting the toner particles dropped in front of the filter.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An improved cleaning device for an electro photographic apparatus, said apparatus having a cleaning brush rotatable adjacent to an electrostatic latent image retentive member for cleaning unnecessary residual toner particles adhered to the electrostatic latent image retentive member; a cleaning fan for producing an air flow to draw off the toner particles scraped by the cleaning brush; and a cleaning filter for collecting the sucked toner particles, the improvement comprising: a duct fixed to the device and enclosing the cleaning brush, the cleaning filter and the cleaning fan therein; first and second swinging arms pivotally mounted at outside of both sidewalls of the duct; a first brush supporting shaft rotatably mounted to the first swinging arm; an auxiliary arm detachably mounted to the second swinging arm having a second rotatable brush supporting shaft; an opening provided to the first sidewall of the duct, capable of extending through the second brush supporting shaft; another opening provided to the second sidewall of the duct capable of passing at least said brush therethrough; a detachable lid having a further opening capable of passing the second brush supporting shaft therethrough, to fully cover said another opening for detachably engaging the cleaning brush to the electrostatic latent image retentive member and to remove the cleaning brush from outside of the duct. 
     
     
       2. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a driving source for swinging the swinging arms is connected to the first swinging arm. 
     
     
       3. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: a driving source for rotating the cleaning brush is provided to the first swinging arm. 
     
     
       4. A cleaning device as claimed in claim 1, wherein: one side of the swinging arms is separably secured for detachably mounting a part of the arms and the cleaning brush is detached from the housing in the direction parallel to the pivot shaft of the swinging arms.